Box spring truss



May 5, 1964 c. c. ANDES 3,131,405

BOX SPRING 'rRuss Filed July 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR (#55752 6 Awzs Ii? BY 38 WM w A TTORA/EYS y 1964 c. c. ANDES 3,131,405

BOX SPRING TRUSS Filed July 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. (#59752 G Anus M MM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,131,405 BOX SPRING TRUSS Chester C. Andes, RR. 2, Box 198-1, Blue Springs, M0. Filed Indy 2, 1962, Ser. No. 206,891 9 Claims. (Cl. 263) This invention relates to a span truss adapted to prevent sagging in bed box spring under load.

It is desirable that box springs be light in construction to maintain low production costs, however, this often results in a disagreeable sag under load. Although slats are commonly used between a box spring and bed frame, they usually oifer little span strength and tend to bend downwardly under load offering little resistance to aid the sagging box spring.

The principal objects of the present invention are:

To provide a span truss to be used either in box spring construction or in the place of one or more bed slats to support the box springs against sagging under load; to provide such a span truss which is adapted to straighten out under load, whereby a person lying on the bed produces a straight span support for the box springs; to provide such a box spring support truss which combines the longitudinal compressibility of a channel with the tensile properties of a bar to produce a combination which exhibits high span strength and predictable deflection under load; to provide an improved span truss which is easily adjustable in length to accommodate width variations in box springs and bed frames and to provide ease of installation thereof; to provide such a truss having clamp members on the opposite ends thereof which are easily adaptable for use with box springs or bed frames having side rails of structural metal, as well as bed frames having side rails of wooden construction; and to provide such a box spring truss which is simple in construction, easily mass produced and highly reliable in use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bed box spring with a lower portion broken away illustrating a truss embodying this invention assembled therewith.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the box spring of FIG. 1 showing details of the assembled combination.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the box spring truss particularly showing end clamp members forming a part thereof.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the truss, taken on the line 44, FIG. 3, on an enlarged scale, showing details of a clamp member.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the truss, FIG. 3 showing details of a post secured centrally thereof.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side elevational view through a bed frame showing a box spring with a mattress thereon and supported on structural metal rails by a span truss embodying this invention.

FIG. 7 is a detailed cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the clamp member of FIG. 4 reversed and rotated for use on a bed frame side rail of wooden construction.

Referring to the drawings in more detail:

The reference numeral 1 generally indicates a box spring supporting span truss embodying this invention. Referring to FIG. 6, the span truss 1 is shown supporting a box spring 2 under a conventional mattress 3 on a bed frame 4 having side rails 5. In the example of FIG. 6, the side rails 5 are formed of elongated structural metal angles each having a horizontal, inwardly extending leg or support member 6 thereon.

Patented May 5, 1964 The span truss 1 comprises an elongated channel member 7 having oppositely extending horizontal end portions 8 and 9 and spaced continuous depending flanges 1t and 11. The channel member 7 opens downwardly and is normally slightly arched upwardly between the end portions 8 and 9. A downwardly extending post 12 has an upper end 13 and a lower end 14. The post upper end 13 is suitably secured, in the illustrated example by welding, to the channel member 7 longitudinally centrally thereof and between the flanges 1t) and 11.

An elongated normally straight truss bar 15 extends longitudinally of and beneath the channel member 7 and is secured at opposite ends 16 thereof to the channel end portions 8 and 9 between the flanges 1t) and 11, in the illustrated example by welding. The lower end 14 of the post 12 is secured, in the illustrated example by welding, to the truss bar 15 longitudinally thereof at 17 for transmitting thereto downward force experienced by the chan nel member 7.

A bore 18 adapted to receive a bolt, rivet or the like extends vertically through the chmnel member 7 and longitudinally through the post 12 and vertically through the truss bar 15 for a purpose to be later described.

An elongated clamp member 19 is provided for each of the end portions 8 and 9 and is comprised of spaced upper and lower horizontal walls 2t and 21 and laterally spaced vertical Walls 22 and 23 forming a rectangular passageway 24 extending longitudinally therethrough for slidably receiving the respective end portions 8 and 9.

The clamp members 1? each have central elongated slots 25 and 26 respectively extending longitudinally of the horizontal upper and lower walls 2% and 21. The end portions 8 and 9 each have a threaded bore 27 extending vertically therethrough and aligned with the slots 25 and 26. Suitable screws 28 have heads 29 for contacting a horizontal wall, in the illustration of FIG. 4 the upper horizontal wall 2d. The screws 28 also have threaded shanks 3t) adapted to selectively extend through the slots, in the example of FIG. 4 slots 25, and threadedly engage the threaded bore 27 in the respective end portions 8 and 9. The screws 28 and respective slots and end portions cooperate for locking the respective clamp members 19 in a variable outwardly extending relation from the end portions of the truss 1. The clamp members 19 have aligned horizontal open-ended slots 31 and 32 extending inwardly into the vertical walls 22 and 23 respectively adjacent the lower horizontal wall 19. A depending boss 33 is formed on the upper horizontal wall 26 and has a threaded bore 34 extending vertically therethrough and adapted to receive and support a screw 35 projecting downwardly to a position substantially between the open-ended slots 31 and 32. The open-ended slots 31 and 32 are adapted to receive and engage the structural metal side rail leg support member 15 therein and the screw 35 is adapted to be urged against the leg support member 6 for clamping same in the respective clamp member 19.

Threaded bores 36 are provided in the lower horizontal walls 21 in alignment with the threaded bores 34 for use in the event that it is desired to clamp the leg support member 6 in the slots 31 and 32 from the bottom of the clamp members 19. The threaded bores 34 also may be used in the event that it is desired to rotate the clamp members 19 so that the lower horizontal walls 21 are uppermost to permit a lowering of the truss 1 with respect to the rails 5 and then clamp from the upper side of the clamp members. 7

Referring particularly to FIG. 7, a clamp member 19 is turned end for end and rotated bottom to top from the showing of FIG. 4 to adapt the truss 1 for use with a bed frame 37 having side railsor support members 38 of wooden construction. For this purpose, the lower horizontal walls 21 (as seen in FIG. 4) extend inwardly of the clamp member 19 forming a lip 39 with a bore 46 extending vertically therethrough. When used for the purpose illustrated in FIG. 7, the lip 39 rests on the wooden side rail 38' for securing the respective clamp members 19 in resting position thereagainst. In the illustrated example of FIG. 7, the screw 28 is extended through the slot 26 and engages the end portion 8 in the same manner as illustrated in FIG. 4.

It is to be understood that when a person lies on the mattress 3, a downward force is transmitted to the channel member 7 which, in turn, is transmitted through the post 12 to the truss bar 15. The channel member '7 resists the load by longitudinal compression, and the truss bar resists the load by longitudinal tension, the two cooperating to provide high load support with a minimum of weight in structural material, It is contemplated that the channel member and truss barbe suitably chosen in respective size to produce approximately /&-inch deflection under about a SOD-pound load on the mattress 3 and that this deflection will straighten the channel member 7 to provide flat span support across the under side of the box spring 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the span truss i is shown assembled with a box spring 42 to provide a transverse supporting truss therein for preventing undue sagging under load. In the combination of FIGS. 1 and 2, the clamp members 19 rest on elongated longitudinal side boards or angles 43 forming a part of the box spring frame 44, and a suitable connecting member, in the illustrated example a tensile force supporting rivet 45, extends through the central bore 18 in the truss 1. The rivet 45 also extends through a central normally upwardly bowed longitudinal span bar 46 crossing centrally beneath the span truss 1 and which forms a part of the box spring frame 44. The span bar 46 receives load from transverse spring supporting members 47. The combination of the truss l and box spring 42 may be used in the manner of a conventional box spring, but will prevent undue sagging under load without a significant increase in box spring weight. Under design load the span bar 46 and the channel member 7 together straighten out to provide fiat support for the box spring.

It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such lirmtations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a box spring having frame members including longitudinal side beams with a plurality of spaced transverse spring supporting members connected to sm'd side beams and extending therebetween and a longitudinal span bar extending under and engaged by said transverse spring supporting members, a transverse span truss comprising:

(a) an elongated member having oppositely extending end portions, said elongated member normally being arched upwardly between said end portions,

(15) a downwardly extending post having an upper end and a lower end,

() an elongated truss bar extending longitudinally of and beneath said elongated member and being secured at opposite ends thereof to said end portions, said post being fixed to said truss bar and said elongated member for connecting the mid-portions thereof, said truss bar extending across and above the span bar,

(d) means for securing said span truss to said longitudinal span bar, and

(e) means extending outwardly of said span truss and engaging said side beams for receiving support therefrom,

(f) whereby said box spring exhibits high resistance agaiustsa'gging with loads thereon.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein:

(a) said elongated member is a channel member having spaced continuous depending flanges.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein:

(a) said box spring longitudinal span bar extends centrally of said box spring and is secured to said truss bar at said post.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein:

(a) said means for securing said span truss to said longitudinal span bar includes a connecting member receiving bore extending vertically through said elongated member and said post and said truss bar.

5. A span truss adapted to support a box spring on a bed frame having side rails with inwardly extending support member's thereon, said span truss comprising:

(a) an elongated member having oppositely extending end portions, said elongated member being arched upwardly between said end portions,

(12) a downwardly extending post having an upper end and a lower end, said post upper end being secured to said elongated member,

(c) an elongated truss bar extending longitudinally of and beneath said elongated member and being secured at opposite ends thereof to said end portions, said post lower end being secured to said truss bar for transmitting thereto downward force from said elongated member,

(d) a clamp member for each of said end portions, said clamp members each having a passageway for slidabiy receiving said end portions,

(e) means for locking the respective clamp members in outwardly extending relation from said end portions, and

(1) means on said clamp members and extending outwardly of said elongated member for engaging said support members,

(g) whereby downward force on said elongated mem her is resisted by tension said truss bar and compres sion in said elongated member.

6. A span truss adapted to support a box spring on a bed frame having side rails with inwardly extending support members thereon, said span truss comprising:

(a) an elongated channel member having oppositely extending horizontal end portions and spaced continuous depending flanges, said channel member opening downwardly and normally being arched upwardly between said end portions,

(b) a downwardly extending post having an upper end and a lower end, said post upper end being secured to said channel member centrally thereof and between said flanges,

(c) an elongated normally straight truss bar extending longitudinally of and beneath said channel member and being secured at opposite ends thereof to said channel end portions between said flanges, said post lower end being secured to said truss bar centrally thereof for transmitting thereto downward force from said channel member,

(d) an elongated clamp member for each of said end portions, said clamp members having spaced upper and lower horizontal walls and spaced vertical walls forming a rectangular passageway extending longitudinally therethrough respectively for slidably receiving said end portions,

(e) means for locking the respective clamp members in outwardly extending relation from said end portions, and

(1) means on said clamp members and extending outwardly of said channel member for engaging said side rail support members,

(g) whereby downward force on said channel member is resisted by tension in said truss bar and compression in said channel member.

7. The span truss of claim 6 wherein:

(a) said means on said clamp members for engaging said support members comprises aligned horizontal threadedly engaged in saidthreaded bore for locking open-ended slots in said vertical walls, and a threaded the clamp member in variable outwardly extending bore extending vertically through said upper horilelatlon from the 6nd P H- zontal wall and adapted to support a screw projeet- Thefipan truss ofclalm 6 wherein! ing downwardly substanfiany between Said Opam 5 (a) said lower horizontal wall extends inwardly of ended S103 said span truss forming a 111) adapted to engage said 8 The span truss of claim 6 wherein: side rail support members by turning said clamp (a) said means for locking the clamp members commembers end for end on Said end portions priiles a slot extending longitudinally of a horizontal 10 References Cited in the file of this patent Wa (b) a threaded bore in the respective end portion and UNITED STATES PATENTS aligned with said slot, and 207, Felch Sept. 10, 1878 (c) a screw having a head contacting said horizontal 214141978 Rlchafdson 23, 1947 Wall and a shank extending through said slot and 15 2,983,931 Nelson May 16) 1961 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A BOX SPRING HAVING FRAME MEMBERS INCLUDING LONGITUDINAL SIDE BEAMS WITH A PLURALITY OF SPACED TRANSVERSE SPRING SUPPORTING MEMBERS CONNECTED TO SAID SIDE BEAMS AND EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN AND A LONGITUDINAL SPAN BAR EXTENDING UNDER AND ENGAGED BY SAID TRANSVERSE SPRING SUPPORTING MEMBERS, A TRANSVERSE SPAN TRUSS COMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATED MEMBER HAVING OPPOSITELY EXTENDING END PORTIONS, SAID ELONGATED MEMBER NORMALLY BEING ARCHED UPWARDLY BETWEEN SAID END PORTIONS, (B) A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING POST HAVING AN UPPER END AND A LOWER END, (C) AN ELONGATED TRUSS BAR EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF AND BENEATH SAID ELONGATED MEMBER AND BEING SECURED AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF TO SAID END PORTIONS, SAID POST BEING FIXED TO SAID TRUSS BAR AND SAID ELON GATED MEMBER FOR CONNECTING THE MID-PORTIONS THEREOF, SAID TRUSS BAR EXTENDING ACROSS AND ABOVE THE SPAN BAR, (D) MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SPAN TRUSS TO SAID LONGITUDINAL SPAN BAR, AND (E) MEANS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID SPAN TRUSS AND ENGAGING SAID SIDE BEAMS FOR RECEIVING SUPPORT THEREFROM, (F) WHEREBY SAID BOX SPRING EXHIBITS HIGH RESISTANCE AGAINST SAGGING WITH LOADS THEREON. 